Shareholders of Africa Prudential Registrars (APR) Plc unanimously approved a total dividend of N1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015. The translates to 60 Kobo per share. The approvale was given at the Annual General Meeting held in Lagos on Tuesday. The company had paid an interim dividend of 17 kobo in August 2015 before the final dividend of 43 kobo.
APR Plc recorded N2.54 billion gross earnings ,, representing a 15 per cent growth from N2.20 billion in 2014. Likewise, the Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the period grew by 25 per cent from N1.3 billion in 2014 to N1.6 billion in 2015. By the performance, expense only grew by a marginal one per cent from N904 million to N913 million. In a similar trend, basic earnings per share grew by 18 per cent from 61 Kobo to 72 Kobo.
Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Peter Ashade, assured all stakeholders that the company would always consider better business models in growing investors’ wealth.
“Our corporate objectives for the year 2015 was to better position our business to withstand the expected headwinds for the financial year by focusing on some key areas. Our achievements in these key areas include: expansion in product offerings, improved cost optimization, more social media trendy, increased profitability, and consistent dividend pay-out” he explained.
In her statement to shareholders, Chairman of the company, Chief (Mrs.) Eniola Fadayomi explained that APR Plc has put strategy in place to provide clear direction for the deployment of its resources.
“The company’s vision is to create long-term and sustainable value for stakeholders in its chosen markets.
In order to realise this long-term objective, the company is making concerted effort to identify and take advantage of every investment opportunity that will complement its goals. “The Company will place particular emphasis on the deployment of its own software in order to maximise efficiency in the business” she added.
Shareholders commended the performance. For instance, Dr. Umar Faruk of the Association for Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders lauded APR Plc for its laudable commitment to increasing shareholders’ wealth.
